​​​​The simplified student visa framework (SSVF) came into effect on 1 July 2016.

Key Changes:

The SSVF has been designed to make the process of applying for a student visa simpler to navigate for genuine students, deliver a more targeted approach to immigration integrity and reduce red tape for business.

From 1 July 2016:

international students will apply for a single Student visa (subclass 500)regardless of their chosen course of study

student guardians will apply for the new Student Guardian visa (subclass 590)

a single immigration risk framework will apply to all international students

all students and student guardians will generally be required to lodge their visa application online by creating an account in ImmiAccount.

Combined country and provider immigration risk model

The combined immigration risk outcomes of the student's education provider and country of citizenship are used to guide the level of financial and English language capacity related documentation that the student needs to provide with their student visa application.